Phytolacca dioica

Phytolacca dioica, commonly known as ombú, is a massive evergreen tree native to the Pampa of South America. It has an umbrella-like canopy that spreads to a girth of 12 to 15 meters (40 to 50 feet) and can attain a height of 12 to 18 meters (40 to 60 feet). Because it is derived from herbaceous ancestors, its trunk consists of anomalous secondary thickening rather than true wood. As a result, the ombú grows fast but its wood is soft and spongy enough to be cut with a knife. These properties have led it to be used in the art of bonsai, as it is easily manipulated to create the desired effect. Since the sap is poisonous, the ombú is not grazed by cattle and is immune to locusts and other pests. For similar reasons, the leaves are sometimes used as a laxative or purgant. It is a symbol of Uruguay and Argentina, and of Gaucho culture, as its canopy is quite distinguishable from afar and provides comfort and shelter from sun and rain.

The herb is categorized in the same genus as the North American pokeweed. The species is also cultivated in Southern California as a shade tree.

Reality (David Bowie album)

Reality is the twenty-third studio album by English rock musician David Bowie. It was released in 2003 on his Iso Records label, in conjunction with Columbia Records.

Recording and production

The album was recorded and produced in New York's Looking Glass Studios and co-produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti. Consisting mostly of original compositions, the album also includes two cover songs, The Modern Lovers' "Pablo Picasso" and George Harrison's "Try Some, Buy Some". These two tracks were originally slated for Bowie's never-recorded Pin Ups 2 album from the early 1970s.

Bowie started writing the songs for Reality as the production for his previous album Heathen was wrapping up. Some songs he wrote quickly: "Fall Dog Bombs the Moon" was written in 30 minutes. Other songs, such as "Bring Me the Disco King", was a song Bowie had tried his hand at as early as the 1970s and had tried again with 1993's Black Tie White Noise as well as Heathen in 2002.

Bowie and Visconti produced both the stereo and 5.1 mix in the studio as the album was recorded.

Days (The Kinks song)

"Days" is a song by The Kinks, written by lead singer Ray Davies, released as a single in 1968. It also appeared on an early version of the album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (released only in continental Europe and New Zealand), and now appears as a bonus track of the remastered CD. On the original Pye 7N 17573 label, the name of the song is "Day's".

Release and reception

The song was an important single for Davies and the Kinks, coming in a year of declining commercial fortunes for the band. The song had been intended as an album track but after the relative failure of the previous single "Wonderboy" (which only reached No. 36 in the UK), "Days" was rushed out as a single with an old unreleased track "She's Got Everything" (recorded in February 1966 in the same session as "Dedicated Follower of Fashion") as the B-side. It reached No. 12 on the UK chart, but failed to chart in the U.S. This did not help future releases however as the next four Kinks singles failed to reach the top 30 (two of them failing to chart altogether) in the UK.

Days (Alisa Mizuki song)

"Days" is the fourteenth single by Japanese recording artist Alisa Mizuki. It was released on November 19, 1997 as the fifth and final single from Mizuki's third compilation album Fiore II. It was also included on Mizuki's fifth studio album Innocence. The title track was written and produced by former Every Little Thing keyboardist Mitsuru Igarashi and served as theme song for the second season of the Fuji TV drama Nurse no Oshigoto, starring Mizuki herself. "Days" is Mizuki's first release under the record label Avex Tune.

Chart performance

"Days" debuted on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart at number 14 with 28,020 copies sold in its first week. It stayed in the top 30, at number 24, on its second week, with 18,660 copies sold. The single charted for nine weeks and has sold a total of 101,120 copies.

Track listing

Charts and sales

References